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Abstract
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In this study, vanadate and molybdate anions were intercalated into Zn–Fe layered double hydroxides
(LDHs) by co-precipitation methods to obtain VO4-LDH and MoO4–LDH nanohybrids. Powder X-ray
diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and
X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) indicate the successful intercalation of vanadate and molybdate
anions. According to the results obtained from TEM and XRD, LDHs have a size in the nanometer scale with
a plate-like morphology and high crystalline quality. Moreover, the LDHs were used as an efficient
electrocatalyst material for water oxidation in alkali solution. In electrochemical water splitting, Zn–Fe–VO4
shows a superior OER performance compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode. Zn–Fe–VO4-LDH exhibits
good OER activity, which is expressed as a low onset overpotential, small Tafel slope, and large exchange
current density. At the overpotential of 0.46 (V vs. SCE), the current density of the Zn–Fe–VO4-LDH
nanosheets is about 188.43 mA cm2, which is much higher than that of the Zn–Fe–MoO4–LDH and
Zn–Fe–NO3–LDH nanoparticles.
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